Grader



June 20, 193 G. D. SHAEFFER I GRADER Filed Nov. 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2QQ m Q 1% an June 1933- G. D. SHAEFFER GRADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledNov. 5, 1951 June 20, 1933. G. D. SHAEFFER GRADER Filed Nov. 5, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 4 q 11v VENTOR Gav/ya. 6&ae299r A TTORNE m June 20, 1933.G. D. SHAEFFER 1,915,105

GRADER Filed NOV 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. SHAEFFER, OF BUCYR'US, OHIO, AS SIGNOR TOW. A. RIDDELL OOMIPANY,

OF BUC'YRUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO enemas 6 Application filedNovember 5, 1931. Serial No. 573,103.

This invention, relating as indicated to To the accomplishment of theforegoing road graders, has particular reference to a type of apparatuswhich normally carries a so-called scraper blade which, when such ap- 43paratus moves over the road, presents the blade in operable relation atvarious positions and angles to the surface of the roadway or theadjacent ditches and banks.

More particularly, my invention relates to a form of constructioncharacterized by the J both horizontal and vertical. No particularemployment of a substantially tubular reach member extending from therear truck to the front truck of the apparatus connecting the same andoperably supporting the working the art, the above described t pe ofroad grader is required to present t e operating blade or tool atvarious angles to the work,

difficulty has been experienced in the past in the adjustment of theearth working implement in a horizontal plane, which adjustment M isusually made for the purpose of regulatfio ing the manner in which suchtool fills depressions in the surface operated upon or deliversquantities .of material laterally of the machine.

With a more universal use, however, of the common form of road graderfor the purpose of perfo'rmin numerous operations such as cutting awayianks, cleaning out ditches and the like, previously accomplished bymanual labor, the need has arisen for a grader in which the blade orearth working tool is capable of adjustments in a vertical plane notpossible with constructions heretofore employed.

In my invention, which is presently to be 40 described, I have adaptedthetype of road tionheretofore never appreciated.

gFader employing a tubular reach to make possible the above identifiedadjustments easily'and efiiciently and with afurther realization ofadvantages of this type of consItruct is among the objects of myinvention to provide aform of construction having the above nameddesirable characteristics. Other objects of myinvention will appear asthe description proceeds.

and related ends, said invention, then conslsts -of the meanshereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in th claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the apparatus comprising my'invention; Fig. 2is a front elevational view of such apparatus; Fig. 3 is a rearelevational-view; Fig. 4 is a broken, part sectlonal, partsideelevational view of the apparatus disclosed in the previous figures;Fig. 5is an enlarged part sectional, part plan view of the apparatusillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a broken, part sectional, part plan view of a portion of theapparatus illustrated in the previous figures drawn to an enlargedscale; Fig. 7 is a broken side elevational view of the apparatusillustrated in Fig.6; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of theimplement supporting circle and its associated mechanism; Fig. 9 is afragmentary, sectional view of the portion of the manipulating apparatusemployed in my construction; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional View of aportion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9 taken on a planesubstantially indicated by the line 10-1( and Fig. 11 is a fragmentarysectional View of the means for supporting the manipulating shaftillustrated in Fig. 9 in any one of three selected positions.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings andmore particularly toFigs. 1 to 4, the apparatus comprising my mvention may be generallydescribed as comprising a front truck a rear truck generally indicatedat 2, which trucks are connected by means of a tubular reach pipe fronttruck 1 by fully explained, will be hitchedm a su1table fashionto somemeans for mov ngthe grader acrr s the ground.

generally indicated at 1,

3. A draft pole 4 secured to the means hereinafter more.

' 7 forming a part of the front standard of the device. Associated withand removably secured to the annular extenslon 6 is a complementarymember 8 which. when bolted or similarly secured to the member 6,universally connects the forward end of the reach pipe 3 to the casting7. V

The casting 7 has a forward extension 9 securing the rear end of thedraft pole 4 and the rear end of such casting. at its lower portion,serves as a means of support for a swivel member 10 which. ashereinafter more fully explained. transmits the pull from the draft pole4 directly to the earth working implement without subjecting the frameof the machine to undue internal stresses. The rear end of the reachpipe 3 is carried in a plate 11 which is secured to substantiallyvertically disposed frame members 12 and thereby supported on the reartruck in the manner most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description of the skeleton frame work of themachine. it will be noted that the front and rear trucks areinterconnected only by means of a tubular member which reduces to a veryminimum the intermediate width of the machine so that the earth workingimplement carried thereby may be moved about in 'a. vertical planewithout encountering any obstruction such as side frame members employedin I former types of construction.

The wheels 13 on the front truck and the wheels 14 on the rear truck aremounted on axles capable of oscillation in a transverse plane so as toenable the apparatus to operate as a leaning wheelgear, the advantagesof which are well known to those familiar with the art.

The wheels 13 of the forward truck are adjusted in the manner describedby links 15 which are oscillatablv secured to a lever 16 oscillated by.mechanism contained within a gear box 17 carried in the front truck. Theactuating shaft 18 for this gear box is disposed vertically within thefront standard and has a bevel gear 19 keyed to its upper end. Ahorizontally disposed rotatable shaft 20 .journaled in the cap 21 of thefront standand carries a bevel pinion.22 which meshes with the gear 19'so that upon rotation of the shaft 20, rotation of the shaft 18 willoccur and consequent manipulation of the links 15 to effect the properleaning of the front wheels. A shaft 23 is universally coupled to theshaft 20 and extending rearwardly through the reach pipe 3 has ahand-wheel 24' keyed thereto so that by rotating this The mechanismwithin the gear box by which the crank arm 16 is oscillated is actuatedby a vertically disposed shaft 25 which carries a hand-wheel 26. As mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 1, the rear truck 2 may be shiftedtransversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reach pipe 3by means of a rack 27 and pinion 28, such pinion being actuated by avertically disposed shaft 29 carrying a hand-wheel 30. The abovedescribed construction of the front and rear trucks of the machine formsno particular part of this invention other than supplementing the majorfeatures of my deslgn which are presently to be described togproduce acomplete operable structure. The detailed'construction of the front andrear trucks has not been shown in an enlarged scale on the drawings,inasmuch as the particular apparatus and controls therefor for proddcinga leaning of the several wheels of the machine, as well as a shifting ofthe rear truck transversely of the axis of the machine, are common formsof construction employed in numerous machines in the prior art so thatthis portion of the apparatuswill not be described nor disclosed ingreater detail.

As previously indicated and as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, theearth working tool which, in this particular case has been illustratedas a scraper blade 31, is carried by the common form of bracket 32secured to and depending from a circle member 33. The circle 33 isrotatably supported on a pin 34 depending from a frame 35. The frame 35is, at its forward end. connected to and supported by the swivel 10which transmits the load directly to the draft pole 4.

As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the circle member 33 is, at theforward portion of its periphery, provided with a plurality of teeth 36adapted-to be engaged by a latch 37 which is oscillatably supported in abracket 38. The latch 37 has secured thereto an upwardly extendingbracket 39. A retractive spring 40 normally urges the latch 37 intoengagement with the teeth 36. The latch may be moved out of engagementby means of a tension member 41 which, at its forward end, is secured toan oscillatable link 42. The link 42 has a manipulating member 43secured thereto and which extends rearwardly and may enter the reachpipe through a suitable aperture provided therefor, so that it will notinterfere with the maor both sides of the grader blade.

nipulation of the means supporting the blade 31. The member 43 mayextend rearwardly out of the reach pipe and be provided withsuitablemeans whereby through the train of linkage above described, the latch 37may be moved into and out of engagement with the teeth 36, so that thecircle 33 may be moved circumferentially relatively to its supportingframe and after being moved, maintained in such adjusted position.

The means for adjustably supporting the circle which carries the earthworking implement will now be describe-d and it is this apparatus aloneand in combination with the previously described features of my machineand those features which will in addition be described, whichconstitutes the major portion of my invent-ion.

The reach pipe 3 has mounted thereon two concentric sleeves 44 and 45,such sleeves being carried by suitable friction reducing bearings. Theouter sleeve 44, as most clearly illustrated inFigs. 1 and 5, hassecured thereto a radially extending arm 46 and the inner sleeve 45carries a similar radially extending arm 47. As most clearly illustratedinFig. 2, the radial arms 46 and 47 respectively have secured theretodepending links 48 and 49 which, attheir lower ends, are connected tothe implement supporting circle. Rotation of either sleeve 44 or 45will, therefore elevate one side-or the other A third sleeve 50. as mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 4, is carried on the reach pipe and suchsleeve has oscillatably secured thereto a cross shift link 51 which, atits lower end, is oscillatably in engagement with a portion of theimplement supporting circle. By the proper circumferential shifting ofthe several sleeves, the grader blade may be made to assume any positionin the vertical plane with respect to the reach pipe. \Vith properclearance under the machine, it will be noted that the J grader bladecan be swung around the reach hand-wheels 52 and 53. These hand-wheelssleeve, a worm 61 in mesh therewith which ismounted on a shaft terminalcarrying a bevel pinion 62. The bevel pinion 62 is in mesh with anotherbevel pinion 63 carried on the extension universally connected to theend of a shaft 64. The shaft 64 is, at its rear end, universally coupledto an extension shaft 65 journaled in a gear box 66. J

The gear box 66 has three parallel shafts 65, 67 and 68 journaledtherein. The center shaft'67 extends rearwardly out of the gear box andhas a hand-wheel 69 secured thereto.

Shafts 65 and 68 have gears 70 and 71 keyed thereto with which thepinion 72 carried by the center shaft 67 may selectively mesh. In axialalignment with the center shaft 67 is a sleeve 73 which has securedtherein, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, a splinedmcmber 7 4with which the terminal 75 of the shaft 67 may co-operate so that suchsleeve may be rotated by such shaft as the same are moved axially intoengagement.

The sleeve 73 is universally connected to the forward end of a shaft 76which, through a shaft 77, and a gear train generally indicated at 78,is adapted to rotate a pinion 79 in mesh with a gear segment 80. Thegear segment 80 is pivotally supported and connected to the front truckofthe machine by means of links 81. WVhen the hand-wheel 69 is movedaxially inwardly until the shaft 67 and the sleeve 7 3 are inengagement, then a rotation of such hand-Wheel will effect a steering ofthe front wheels of the grader.

It will be noted that the shaft 67 is provided with a plurality ofaxially spaced circumferential grooves '82, 83 and 84 and the wall ofthe gear casing is provided with a resiliently supported ball 85 forengagement with any one of such grooves to maintain the shaft 67 in anyone of its axially adjusted positions. \Vhen the shaft is retracted inthe position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 9, rotation of thehand-wheel 69 will effect a rotation of the shaft 65 which, aspreviously indicated, is arranged to manipulate the link 51 andaccordingly move the grader blade transversely of the machine. When,however, the shaft 67 is moved axially so that the hand-wheel occupiesthe dotted line position indicated at 86, the pinion 72 will be out ofmesh with both gears 70 and 71 but the shaft will be in engagem ent withthe sleeve 73 so that the hand-wheel 69 may be employed as a steeringwheel without effecting the set of the grader blade. When the shaft ismoved axially for a further distance to the dotted line positionillustrated at 87, then the terminal 75 thereof will be out ofengagement with the splin'ed member 74 but the pinion 72 will be in meshwith the gear 71 so that a rotation of the handwheel will effect arotation of the shaft 68.

The shaft 68 will preferably be connected by means of suitable shaftsand universal couplings to means for adjusting the position of a secondearth Working tool such as a scarifier which, however, is notillustrated in the drawings.

i For the purpose of efiecting'adjustment of the grader blade in ahorizontal plane,the rear circumferential portion of the circle 33 ispro vided with a plurality 9f teeth 88 with which, as most clearlyillustrated in Fig. 7, a pinion 89 meshes. The pinion 89 is keyed to ashaft which, at its upper end, has a bevel pinion 9O keyed thereto whichmeshes with a second bevel pinion 91 keyed to a third shaft 92. Theshaft 92 is rotatedby means of a flexible connection 93 leading to ashaft 94 on which is mounted a hand-wheel 95. The shaft 94 is journaledin a suitable bearing supported in a bracket 96 secured to the loweredge of the plate 11. The purpose of the fle Xible connection 93 is topermit relative movement be-.

tween the circle supporting gear blade and the frame of the gear withoutinterfering wit-h the operation of the means for adjusting the blade ina horizontal plane.

It will be noted that the above described form of construction hasnumerous advantages not found in any constructions heretofore employedand which may be briefly enumerated as follows:

The employment of a tubular reach for the grader affords a compactconnection between the front and rear trucks which is exceptionallyrigid. This tubular reach also serves as a bearing for the severalsleeves which, when rotated relatively thereto, may be employed for thepurpose of effecting a selected movement of the linkage supporting theearth working implement so that the support of such tool is greatlysimplified. As above indicated, due to the fact that the tubular reachof the grader is also the means of rotatably supporting the linkagewhich carries the blade, the grader blade may be swung about the axis ofthe reach pipe to any desired working angle. This substantiallyuniversal movementof the frame supporting the blade is further madepossible by means of the swivel connection between such frame and thefront truck or draft pole-of the grader. A further desirable advantageof the construction comprising my invention is that the entire thrust ofthe blade is carried through its immediate supporting frame audtransmitted directly to the draft pole without subjecting the frame ofthe machine to any of this stress.

The tubular reach may also be employed for the purpose of supporting aforward operating tool, such as a'scarifier, if mounted so as not tointerfere with the means supporting the scraper blade. It is believedthat the operation of the above described form of construction and theadvantages incidental to the same are sufficiently evident to thosefamiliar with the prior art that a further description thereof isunnecessary.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of awheelsupported tubular reach member, an earth working tool, and meansconcentric with and rotatable relatively to said reach for supportingsaid tool.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a wheelsupported tubular reach member, an earth working tool, and a memberjournaled on periphery of said reach for adjustably supporting saidtool.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a wheelsupported tubular reach, an earth working tool, and a plurality of toolsupporting members rotatably supported concentrically on said reach.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a wheelsupported tubular reach, an earth working tool, a plurality ofconcentric sleeves rotatably supported on said reach for supporting saidtool, and means operable from a central station for effecting rotation'of said sleeves relatively to said reach.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a Wheelsupported tubu lar reach, an earth working tool, a plurality of sleevesconcentric with and journaled on said reach for supporting said tool andmoving the same in a vertical plane, and means for relatively rotatingsaid sleeves and said reach.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a wheel supported tubujustment, and another sleevejournaled on said reach supporting said tool for adjustment transverselyof said reach.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a wheelsupported tubular reach, an earth working tool, means journaled on andconcentric with said reach adjustably supporting said tool in a planetransversely of the axis of said reach, and means for swinging said'toolto adjust its angular relation to said plane.

9. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a wheel supported tubu-- lar reach, an earth workingtool, means journaled on the periphery of said reach adandjournaled onsaid reach for adjustably supporting said tool.

11. In a road grader having front and rear trucks, a tubular reachconnecting said trucks, a draft pole associated with the front truck, animplement carrying frame coupled to said pole, and a plurality ofsleeves concentric with and ournaled on said reach adjustably supportingsaid frame.

12. In a road grader having front. and

rear trucks, a centrally arranged longitudinally extending reach memberconnecting said trucks, a draft pole associated with one of said trucks,an implement frame coupled to said pole, and a plurality of sleevesconcentric with and journaled on said reach member adjustably supportingsaid frame.

13. In a road grader having front and rear trucks, a centrally arrangedlongitudinally extending reach member connecting said trucks, animplement carrying frame, means for rotatably supporting an implement onsaid frame, a plurality of sleeves concentric with and journaled on saidreach member adj ustably supporting said frame, and means for relativelyrotating said implement and frame. e

1 1. In a road ader havin front and rear trucks, a centra 1y arrangelongitudinally extending reach member connecting said trucks, anoperators station on one of said trucks, an implement carrying framemovably secured at one end to one of said trucks,

7 a plurality of sleeves concentric with and journaled on said reachmember adjustably supporting said frame, an implement rotatablysupported on said frame, and means operable from said operators stationfor relatively moving said frame and reach member and said implement andframe. I

15. A road grader having in combination front and rear wheeled trucks, atubularreach ,member mounted on the rear truck and universally connectedto the front truck, means for steering the wheels of one of said trucks,an implement carrying frame oscillatably coupled to one of said trucks,an implement rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of sleevesconcentric'with and journaled on said reach member for adjustablysupporting said frame, and means for relaitively rotating said implementand frame, all of said steering and implement adjusting means beingoperable from a single station.

16. A road grader having in combination front and rear wheeled trucks, atubular reach membermounted at one end on one of said trucks anduniversally coupled at its other end to the other truck, an implement lcarrying frame oscillatably coupled to one of said trucks, a sleevejournaled onsaid reach member and having a radially extending armconnected to one side of said frame, a

second sleeve journaled on said reach member 1 and provided with aradially extendin arm connected to the other side of said rame, meansfor independently rotating said sleeves whereby either side of saidframe may be raised or lowered, a third sleeve journaled on said reachmember and provided with a connection to said frame whereby rotation ofsaid third sleeve will effect a lateral shiftmg of said frame, all ofsaid sleeves arranged substantially concentric with said reach, animplement supporting circle on said frame, and a flexible operatingdevice extending from said operator s station to said frame whereby saidcircle member may be rotated.

Signed by me this 2nd day of November, 1931. 4

GEORGE D. SHAEFFER.

